Anti-theft security chain

ABSTRACT

An anti-theft security chain that includes a retainer on the lower end that is locked to the chain, and wherein the chain is adapted to be extended through a sleeve of a garment and with the upper portion of the chain being looped over the garment rack.

Rosenberg et al.

[ ANTI-THEFT SECURITY CHAIN [76] Inventors: Thomas Rosenberg; Harold Rosenberg, both of 144-150 W. 18th St., New York, NY. 10011 [22] Filed: July 17, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 379,937

[52] US. Cl 211/4; 70/59 [51] Int. Cl E05b 73/00 [58] Field of Search 211/4, 7; 70/18, 59', 59/18 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 595,670 12/1897 Chambers 211/4 610,372 9/1898 Sanford 924,824 6/1909 Peebler 1,043,351 11/1912 Paskell 1,083,491 l/19l4 l-lerzberg 1,148,614 8/1915 Pastor 1,401,971 1/1922 Faison 70/18 X 2,371,280 3/1945 Campbell 59/18 2,655,424 10/1953 OConnor 211/4 X [451 May 27, 1975 3,378,144 4/1968 Webster.... 211/4 3,606,948 9/1971 Strang 211/4 3,690,130 9/1972 Eutzler 211/4 X 3,798,934 3/1974 Wrigt et a1 70/59 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 200,962 10/1907 Germany 21 H4 167,865 7/1904 Germany 211/4 229,514 3/1910 Germany 211/4 172,028 8/1905 Germany 211/4 362,847 5/1921 Germany 211/4 708,067 4/1931 France 59/22 Primary Examiner-Roy D. Frazier Assistant ExaminerThomas J. Holko Attorney, Agent, or FirmSherman Levy ABSTRACT 1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures ANTI-THEFT SECURITY CHAIN The present invention relates to anti-theft devices, and more particularly to an anti-theft security chain for preventing garments from being removed from racks by shop lifters or the like.

An object of the present invention is to provide an anti-theft security chain that is adapted to be used by retailers to protect their merchandise and to prevent shop lifting while keeping their security costs at a minimum.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an anti-theft security chain that fits through the sleeve of a garment, over the garment rack, and which is locked to itself, the present invention permitting the shopper to handle the garment but will not allow the garment to be removed from the rack so that shop lifting losses can be prevented or minized.

A still further object is to provide such an anti-theft security chain that is economical to manufacture and efficient in operation and which is rugged in structure and fool proof in use.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification and claims, together with the accompanying drawing, wherein like parts are referred to and indicated by like references and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the anti-theft security chain of the present invention, and with portions of a garment broken away for clarity of illustration.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating certain constructional details of the anti-theft security chain of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a modification.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral indicates the anti-theft security chain of the present in vention which is adapted to be used with a rack such as the rack 11, and the rack 11 may have a suitable construction so that it includes vertically disposed posts 12 as well as a horizontally disposed bar or rod 13. The numeral 14 indicates conventional hangers that haved hooked portions 15 engaging the bar 13, FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 1 s plurality of garments 16 are supported on the hangers 14, and the garments 16 include sleeves 17 of hollow formation. The numeral 18 indicates an elongated chain that comprises a plurality of interfitting, interconnected small links 19, and large links 20 and 21 are arranged on the upper and lower ends of the chain 18, FIG. 2.

The numeral 23 indicates a lock that is arranged in engagement with the lower link 21, and the numeral 22 indicates a retainer which may in the form of an enlarged ring member that is connected to the lower link 21 by means of a lock 23. As shown in FIG. 2, the upper portion of the chain is adapted to be looped around the bar 13 and through the enlarged link 20 whereby the entire assembly is locked in place.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there has been provided an anti-theft security chain, and in use with the parts arranged as shown in the drawings the garments such as the garments 16 are adapted to be mounted or supported on the hangers 14 which are suspended from the bar 13. The chain 18 is adapted to be extended through the sleeve 17 and the upper portion of the chain is looped around the bar 13 as shown in FIG. 2 and extended through the enlarged link 20 so that a locking means is provided for attaching the device to the garment rack. The enlarged ring 22 is connected to the lower enlarged link 21 by means of a lock 23 so that with the chain 18 extended through the sleeves 17, it will be impossible for a shop lifter to remove the garment from the rack without the sales person using a key to unlock the lock 232 because the ring member 22 is of greater size than the sleeve 17.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapes and sizes as desired or required.

It will be seen that the present invention thus limits in-store theft so that retailers can protect their merchandise and prevent shop lifting, while keeping their security costs at a minimum. The present invention is especially suitable for preventing shop lifting losses in apparel departments. The chain assembly of the present invention fits through the sleeve of a garment, over the garment rack, and is locked to itself as shown in the drawings. The chain assembly allows the shopper to handle the garment and even to try it on, but will not allow the garment to be removed from the rack. Thus, the chain assembly will decrease shop lifting losses. Various types of chains can be used such as welded or unwelded chains and the chains may be made in different sizes for various types of purposes or uses. In addition, the chains may be provided with different types of finishes to make the protective chain as attractive as possible.

Thus, as shown in the drawings, the garments are chained to the racks so that the shoppers can examine the garments, but it is necessary for the sales person to unlock the lock member 23 so that the retainer or ringer member 22 can be removed before the garment can be removed from the rack.

When using the device, it is only necessary to extend the chain around the bar as shown in FIG. 2 and then extend the chain through the sleeve and the device can be locked in place. A prospective purchaser can try the garment on without an attendant. The enlarged ring member 22 prevents the garment from being removed by a shop lifter. It will be noted that the chain has the enlarged links 20 and 21 on'its ends so that the upper portion of the chain can be looped around the bar 13, and the lower link 21 provides a means for conveniently attaching the retainer 22 in place by means of a lock 23. Instead of making the retainer 22 of circular formation, it can have other shapes and, for example, pikay be made in a diamond-shape, square shape or the No tools are required when installing or removing the device, and the device can be installed in seconds.

The links are large enough to permit the device to be looped or lassoed over the bar 13. The chain has no sharp edges so that damage to the garment will be prevented. The links of the chain are adapted to be welded on the ends thereof instead of on the side to prevent a smooth construction so that the links will not snag the garment lining. The device can be readily unlocked to permit a garment to be tried on or to be sold to the custome r. The ring or retainer 22 is sufficiently large so that can not be pulled back through the sleeve. The retainer or ring 22 is of sufficient weight so that the f haln hangs down by gravity. When a rack of clothes is being displayed, the only coat or garment that will show the chain assembly is the one on the end so the present invention does not spoil the appearance of the garments. As shown in FIG. 2 and as indicated by the numeral 24, a choke effect is provided on the chain and this makes it impossible to remove the upper portion of the device from the rack. As shown in the drawings, the chain is practically invisible. The lock 23 is on the bottom of the chain so that it can be easily detached by the sales person that the garment can be readily and selectively demonstrated to the perspective customer. The device can be'readily and easily installed or moved in a short period of time. A ring 22 is of the welded type so that it can be pulled apart and is of sufficient strength or weight so that it cannot be compressed. The lock 23 is adapted to use a suitable key so that the sales person can open the lock anywhere in the store.

Referring now to FIG. 3 of the drawings, there is illustrated a modification or alternative anti-theft security chain that is indicated generally by the numeral 30. In FIG. 3 a portion of the sleeve 17 is broken away for clarity of illustration, and the chain 31 of the assembly 30 is looped over or around the horizontal bar 13 of the rack 11, and a portion of the chain 31 is extended through the sleeve 17. The numeral 34 indicates a lock that is arranged in engagement with the enlarged links 32 and 33 on the ends of the chain 31. Thus, in FIG. 3, a member such as the ring member 22 is not used or needed.

Thus, as shown in the alternative or modified form of the invention of FIG. 3, a chain is used without a ring and the chain 31 is sufficiently long so that a person can try the garment, such as the garment 16, on without removing the same from the rack. When a customer desires to purchase the garment 16, the sales person can unlock the lock 34, so that the garment can be completely removed from the rock. Thus, this arrangement also provides a means for preventing shop lifting, since the garment 16 of FIG. 3 is firmly secured or locked in place to the garment rack.

It is to be understood that the form of this invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as the preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

We claim:

1. An anti-theft security chain exclusively for a standard garment rack fixture of the type usual to a retail store and the like, said anti-theft security chain being for use only with garments having sleeves, said rack fixture being of the type that includes a horizontally disposed bar on the upper portion thereof, a plurality of hangers each having a hook portion loosely and freely engaging the top bar of said rack fixture, garments mounted on said hangers, each of said garments mending sleeves of hollow formation, a chain projecting through a sleeve of the garment and said chain having a portion that is freely wrapped and looped over the bar of said rack fixture and wherein the looped wrapped portion permits the chain to be moved along the horizontally disposed bar as well as permittingconvenient removal of the chain from the bar, said chain comprising a plurality of interfitting, interconnected small links, said chain including a top link and a lower link,

the top link of each chain having an enlarged formation thereby allowing the upper portion of the chain to be extended through the top link of thechain, the antitheft security chain providing a choke effect on the bar so that the upper portion thereof can not be removed from the rack, a lock detachably connected to the lower link of said chain, a retainer connected to said; lock, said retainer including an enlarged open ring the main portion of the chain hanging down by gravity due to the weight of the retainer, and wherein said antitheft security chain permits a prospective purchaser to examine and handle the garment but preventing the garment from being removed from the rack fixture until the lock is manually unlocked, said chain having a length that is sufficiently large enough to permit the chain to be looped over the top bar, said chain being free of sharp edges so that damage to the garment will be prevented and wherein the links of the chain provide a smooth construction so that thelinks will not snag the garment lining, said retainer being sufficiently large enough so that it can not be pulled back through the sleeve, and wherein when a rack of clothes is being displayed the only garment that will show the anti-theft security chain is the end garment so that the overall appearance of the garments being displayed will not be spoiled, said ring member being of sufficient strength a and weight so that it can not be compressed whereby unauthorized removal can be prevented, said anti-theft,

solely for use with garments and articles of clothing to i be worn. 

1. An anti-theft security chain exclusively for a standard garment rack fixture of the type usual to a retail store and the like, said anti-theft security chain being for use only with garments having sleeves, said rack fixture being of the type that includes a horizontally disposed bar on the upper portion thereof, a plurality of hangers each having a hook portion loosely and freely engaging the top bar of said rack fixture, garments mounted on said hangers, each of said garments including sleeves of hollow formation, a chain projecting through a sleeve of the garment and said chain having a portion that is freely wrapped and looped over the bar of said rack fixture and wherein the looped wrapped portion permits the chain to be moved along the horizontally disposed bar as well as permitting convenient removal of the chain from the bar, said chain comprising a plurality of interfitting, interconnected small links, said chain including a top link and a lower link, the top link of each chain having an enlarged formation thereby allowing the upper portion of the chain to be extended through the top link of the chain, the anti-theft security chain providing a choke effect on the bar so that the upper portion thereof can not be removed from the rack, a lock detachably connected to the lower link of said chain, a retainer connected to said lock, said retainer including an enlarged open ring member having a greater size than the diameter of the sleeve of the garment, said ring member being positioned contiguous to the lower outer end of said sleeve, said ring member having an open interior and said ring member having a loose free connectioN to said lock, the main portion of the chain hanging down by gravity due to the weight of the retainer, and wherein said anti-theft security chain permits a prospective purchaser to examine and handle the garment but preventing the garment from being removed from the rack fixture until the lock is manually unlocked, said chain having a length that is sufficiently large enough to permit the chain to be looped over the top bar, said chain being free of sharp edges so that damage to the garment will be prevented and wherein the links of the chain provide a smooth construction so that the links will not snag the garment lining, said retainer being sufficiently large enough so that it can not be pulled back through the sleeve, and wherein when a rack of clothes is being displayed the only garment that will show the anti-theft security chain is the end garment so that the overall appearance of the garments being displayed will not be spoiled, said ring member being of sufficient strength and weight so that it can not be compressed whereby unauthorized removal can be prevented, said anti-theft security chain being usable with the conventional garment rack fixture without requiring any alteration to the rack fixture, said anti-theft security chain being solely for use with garments and articles of clothing to be worn. 